HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL APPOINTS EXPERTS TO HIGH-LEVEL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO SITUATION IN LEBANON

1 September 2006


The President of the Human Rights Council, Ambassador Luis Alfonso de Alba, today announced the appointment Clemente Baena Soares (Brazil), Mohamed Chande Othman (Tanzania), and Stelios Perrakis (Greece) as members of the High-Level Commission of Inquiry into the situation in Lebanon.

The High-Level Commission of Inquiry, established pursuant to Human Rights Council Resolution S-2/Res/1 during the special session of the Council held on 11 August 2006, should, among other things: investigate the systematic targeting and killings of civilians by Israel; examine the types of weapons used by Israel and their conformity with international law; and assess the extent and deadly impact of Israeli attacks on human life, property, critical infrastructure and environment.

Mr. Baena Soares, former Secretary General of the Organization of American States (1984-1994) and General Secretary of the Ministry of External Relations of Brazil, is a Member of the UN International Law Commission.

Mr. Chande Othman is a judge on the Supreme Court of Tanzania. He was the former Chief Prosecutor for Timor Leste (UNTAET, 2000-2002) and Chief of Prosecutions at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda from 1998-2000.

Mr. Perrakis is a Professor of International and European Institutions, President of the Department of International and European Studies of Panteion University, Director of the European Centre for Research and Training on Human Rights and Humanitarian Action, Member of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (E.C.R.I.) of the Council of Europe, Member of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission and Member of the National Commission for Human Rights of Greece.

* *** *
For use of the information media; not an official record